THE HOUSEHOLD ECONOMIC BURDEN OF HEAD AND NECK CANCER PATIENTS IN PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The most prevalent cancer in the world is head and neck cancer. The age of the patients positively associates with the disease's incidence. About 85% of the male patients diagnosed with this condition are older than 45 years of age. The main risk factors for head and neck cancer include tobacco use, smoking, and alcohol consumption. These are especially significant risk factors for male patients with head and neck cancer. The objective of this study is to measure the economic burden of head and neck cancer disease in the male population. Households have a heavy financial burden because of head and neck cancer. To examine the impact of head and neck cancer on patients, we got the list of the patients from the territory care hospitals in Peshawar and interviewed 235 patients to estimate the health cost. The study's methodology is divided into two parts: empirical estimations and descriptive statistics. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) estimate technique was employed in the study to identify the variables affecting the expense of head and neck cancer. According to the analysis, the stage of cancer and the length of the treatment is increasing the cost of head and neck cancer and the number of cancer patients visiting these hospitals from the KPK, Islamabad, etc. The majority of respondents reported significant intangible burdens, such as fear, pain, mental distress, and family management. Patients with head and neck cancer were more likely to face several psychological issues because of their health condition.